THE TROLLEY PARK NEWS

June-July 1980 Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society Bulletin Vol. 21, No’s 6 & 7

Tram Dedication Opens Preservation Week

istoric Preservation Week

events in the City of Portland

began on May 12th with a trolley

dedication ceremony at Waterfront

Park. Ex-Ballarat, Australia, tram

No. 30 was in the spotlight as Mayor

Connie McCready cut the ribbon

draped across one entrance. The

keynote address, pointing out the

significance of the new display to

the city that witnessed America's

first interurban operation, was given

by OERHS Secretary Dick

Thompson. Also in uniform for the

occasion were members Charles

Hayden and Al Haij.

Guests were introduced by Portland

Historic Landmarks Commission

Chairman Virginia Ferriday. They

included brothers Bill and Sam

Naito, who brought the vintage

streetcar to Portland. Transportation

and restoration of the car at

Glenwood had been arranged by

Museum Director Paul Class, so

media coverage of the dedication

helped publicize both the planned

Oldtown-Downtown antique trolley

line and the Trolley Park.

The single-truck Australian vehicle

was moved to semi-permanent

display in the parking lot across the

street from Import Plaza soon after

the ceremony. It is pulled back into

an alleyway next to the lot each

night for security. Future plans call

for operation of the tram, either at

the Trolley Park or over downtown

Portland streets.

In the News

he OERHS and its members

have been in the news of late.

The Trolley Park was mentioned in

Steve Maguire’s "Transit Topics"

column in the July 1980 issue of

Railfan & Railroad magazine. The

announcement explained that

Museum Director Paul Class had

completed restoration of four

tramcars for Seattle. Operations at

the Park this summer were also

mentioned. The information was

gleaned from the pages of The

Trolley Park News, which is sent to

several railfan publications.

The new exhibit in the Glenwood

Electric Railway Depot was listed in

the "Weeks’ Worth" section of the

June 17-23, 1980 Willamette Week

newspaper.

OERHS trustee Bill Hayes was

written up in the "East Multnomah"

department of The Oregonian on

May 27, 1980. Bill’s many hobbies

were described in a piece entitled

"Collector Relishes his '20s,'30s

Artifacts." Hayes's love of the trolley

car received prominent attention,

along with such diversions as

antique automobile restoration,

H

T

The Trolley Park News is

published monthly be the OERHS

and is available through

membership. Send requests for

information, or items for

publication, to Richard Thompson,

Editor, 1836 N. Emerson, Portland,

OR 97217.

OERHS Secretary Dick Thompson speaking at the opening of Historic Preservation Week in Portland as Mayor Connie McCready, Landmarks Chairman Virginia Ferriday, and OERHS

Superintendent Charles Hayden watch (Courtesy Mayor McCready’).

Page 2 The Trolley Park News June-July 1980

collecting 78 rpm records, and fixing

classic radios. Bill, who wore his

natty motorman's uniform for the

interview, was depicted as an

"inveterate collector, romantic and

brakeman of (the) future."

New Exhibit Opens at the Trolley Park

t 2’ o clock on June 8, 1980

Oregon Historical Society

Field Historian Elizabeth Buehler

cut the ribbon opening the first

exhibit in the new Depot Museum at

the Trolley Park. While some 50-

people looked on, commemorative

addresses were given by OERHS

President George Combs, Chairman

Larry Griffith, and Treasurer Lee

Young.

"How the Trolley Changed

America" is the first museum exhibit

offered by the 21-year-old OERHS,

which has previously concentrated

on trolley restoration and operation.

On display are historic photographs,

maps, tickets, transfers, pins, and

various pieces of antique trolley

equipment. These artifacts are

displayed on walls, partitions, and in

large display cases.

Highlight of the exhibit will be the

large street scene diorama being

painted by Portland artist Dale

Varner. His realistic scene, based on

a period photograph, will be viewed

through a leaded glass office

window.

The depot building, used for many

years as an office and home for

General Manager Paul Class, has

been completely remodeled into a

professional exhibit area, complete

with dropped ceilings, track lighting,

and light-colored walls. Shoulder

height partitions divide the gallery in

half, providing additional exhibit

space, while creating a more

organized traffic flow. The floor has

been carpeted to cut down on noise.

The only remaining vestige of the

building's former use is a small

kitchen and bathroom, where

volunteer crews can now clean up or

fix a snack while working at the

Trolley Park.

For those who have not had an

opportunity to experience the

exhibition firsthand, the layout is as

follows: Displays are divided into 15

theme areas. Upon entering the

museum visitors first see panels

devoted to foot travel and early

transportation. Photographs reveal

an era of muddy streets and rough

going. Precursors of the trolley are

illustrated, such as horsecars, steam

dummies, and cable cars. The exhibit

then moves into the various types of

revenue and work trolleys. Pictures

and captions are mounted on the

walls surrounding the museum's

furnace room. The first display case

holds artifacts highlighting the

architecture of the trolley, including

stained glass windows, lighting

fixtures, spindlework seats, and a

large headlamp. Maps and

photographs on one side of the

central room partition explain how

the trolley changed America. At the

A

Exhibit Chairman Larry Griffith assists as Oregon Historical Society Field Historian Elizabeth

Buehler cuts the ribbon opening the new Depot Museum at the Trolley Park on June 8. OERHS members watching include (left to right) Bill Hayes, George Combs, Keith Stephenson and Al

Nelson. (Susan B. Hayden photograph)

Page 3 The Trolley Park News June-July 1980

end of the partition a small case that

once held fountain pens now sports

memorabilia used by the men of the

trolley era. Uniformed crewmen peer

down on the case from surrounding

pictures. On the other side of the

partition photographic enlargements

of tickets, passes, and timetables

illustrate how the "Trolley Took You

Everywhere." At the far end of the

room a big office window looks

down on trolleys moving through a

busy intersection. This is followed

by a large Victorian-style display

case which holds artifacts like wood-

working tools and a variety of

control "handles" (from brakes,

controllers, etc.). A wall featuring a

complete controller and several large

gauges logically follows. Visitors

can get the feel of controlling a

streetcar here before exiting down

the ramp to board a real trolley.

A final exhibit area is devoted to the

demise and renaissance of streetcars

in America. There is also a large

bulletin board for news of the

Society located across from the gift

shop and ticket counter.

The new exhibit was made possible

by a grant from the National

Endowment for the Humanities,

which included funding for a 66-

page illustrated guidebook compiled

by Charles Hayden. This "Guide to

the Exhibition" is available free of

charge to those attending the exhibit,

and is being mailed out to all current

OERHS members with this bulletin.

Visitors to the Trolley Park on grand

opening day were also treated to a

fine rally of antique cars provided by

the Historical Automobile Club of

Oregon. Among the cars that lined

up for viewing next to Meadows

Station were Ray Dunford's 1923

Pierce Arrow; a 1929 Franklin sedan

driven by Jack Woolf; the 1928

Buick belonging to Dave Allen; a

1941 Lincoln maintained by William

Blair; a 1938 Oldsmobile kept in top

condition by Gene Hollowell; Dave

Lau's 1948 Ford; and the 1940 Ford

restored by Tour Chairman Rudy

Zvarich.

We are very grateful to Rudy (who

has also been known to mutter an

affectionate word or two about

streetcars) and OERHS's own Bill

Hayes for arranging this colorful

display. Thanks also go to the 12

crewmen who provided two-car

streetcar service, with No. 1187 and

No. 4012, during opening day.

This view of the new exhibit at the Trolley Park shows panels interpreting “Men of the Trolley Era” (at left) and “How the Trolley Changed America.” The display case holds memorabilia.

(Richard Thompson photograph)

Three of the vintage cars that lined up adjacent to Meadows Station in a rally arranged by the

Historical Automobile Club of Oregon as part of the grand opening of the new exhibit in the

Trolley Park Depot. Broadway Car 4012 is in the background. (Susan B. Hayden photograph)

Page 4 The Trolley Park News June-July 1980

Work at the Park

ew member Bud Statton has

been named Foreman of

Maintenance by Museum Director

Paul Class. Foremost of his duties

will be the implementation of a

much-needed maintenance schedule

for rolling stock on the Glenwood

Electric Railway.

Maintenance work at the Park is

more critical this summer due to

volcanic ash deposited by eruptions

from Mt. St. Helens. The ash is

largely silica so, in addition to

making everything dirty, it acts as a

nonconductor. It is also very

abrasive.

Regular operations at Glenwood

have had to be curtailed somewhat

lately since the motion of the trolleys

sends volcanic dust billowing into

passengers' nostrils and trolley

electrical equipment.

Despite this, progress continues to

be made at the Park. Additional

ballast has been placed between the

rails on the Loop Track, the brick

street adjacent to the depot has been

completed, cluster lights are being

installed at boarding areas along the

line to facilitate night operations,

and the block signal at the carbarn

has been lowered to proper height

and rewired by George Hickok.

Plenty of projects are also under way

in the shop: The damaged vestibule

of tram No. 48 is being rebuilt, and

red stained-glass upper sash

windows are back in place. The seats

in 48 are being reupholstered in

authentic English fabric. Meanwhile,

a concrete floor is being poured in

the nearby blacksmith shop. In

addition, Don Burkhart is hard at

work fixing the burned-out motor in

the wheel lathe.

Australian open tram No. 1187

suffered its first road failure this

summer when a July 20th electrical

fire forced it out of service.

Broadway car No. 4012 had to

shoulder the entire revenue operation

while 1187 was undergoing repair.

Refastening of connections,

adjustment of a motor brush, and

cleaning up of electrical parts has

subsequently returned 1187 to

service.

Charles Hayden has obtained a

single point street switch for the

Park. The antique switch was

removed from the intersection of NE

Union and Alberta streets in Portland

this summer during a street

improvement project. It was donated

by Buzz Ortiz of Dirt and Aggregate

Interchange, Inc., which was

contractor for the project. We hope

to obtain more such switches for

future narrow-gauge tracks at the

Park. Thank you, Charles and Mr.

Ortiz.

Repair is necessary to the guard rail

on Carbarn track 2. In the meantime,

the movement of cars over this track

will require careful operation.

A safety deck and railings for the

trestle next to the Depot are being

planned. Of course, visitors are not

supposed to walk across the trestle,

but, since they persist, we don't want

them falling into the drink!

N

Grand Opening Crew: Top row left to right - Charles Hayden and Bud Statton; Bottom row left to

right – Glen Eaton, Dick Thompson, Bill Hayes, Al Haij, Larry Griffith, Lee Young, George

Combs, Keith Stephenson, and Al Nelson. (Susan B. Hayden photograph)

Page 5 The Trolley Park News June-July 1980

In Memoriam Harry Erickson

t is with regret that we announce

the passing of longtime OERHS

member Harry W. Erickson on

February 28, 1980. Harry was born

in Portland in 1896. He worked in

the construction trade and as a

longshoreman prior to retirement

some 18 years ago.

Harry’s retirement was an active

one, involving participation in

several clubs and history groups, of

which the OERHS was a favorite.

Although poor health prevented

frequent trips out to the Trolley Park,

Harry seldom missed a general

meeting or annual banquet. We doff

our caps and softly peal the trolley

gong for this old friend.

Superintendent’s Report

sincere thank-you is due those

individuals and agencies who

made the new exhibit at the Trolley

Park possible. They include: The

National Endowment for the

Humanities; The House of Lloyds;

Industrial Printing and Advertising;

The Oregon Historical Society; The

Georgia-Pacific Historical Museum;

Roy Bonn and his sons; Don

Burkhart; George Gerner; Larry and

Willa Griffith; Bill and Margaret

Hayes; Charles and Susan Hayden;

George Hickok; Donald MacDonald;

Al Nelson; Bud Statton; Keith

Stephenson; and Dick and Nancy

Thompson. Without your help we

couldn't have done it!

The new museum and improvements

need member support to go forward.

Crews are needed for regular

weekend operation, which has been

made more difficult by the volume of

ash that Mt. St. Helens sent to

Glenwood. Please make a

commitment and call Charles

Hayden (285-6904) to reserve the

dates you can volunteer. Then, come

out one more day than you had

planned. Remember, more help than

ever is needed now.

Council Crest Car 503 Commemoration

ark Saturday, August 23 on

your calendars. This will be

the occasion for car commemoration

and general membership meeting

and potluck at Glenwood. The day

will begin at 9 0' clock a.m.,

according to Superintendent Charles

Hayden, who explains that those

arriving during the morning will

have an opportunity to participate in

scheduled work parties, including

construction of a walkway and

railings over the short trestle next to

the depot; the line crew will run wire

between the two block signals under

the supervision of George Hickok or

Don Burkhart; and installation of

cluster lights at the Carbarn, Shop,

and Depot.

Lunch and the general meeting will

begin at Noon. Please call Susan or

Charles Hayden for what food to

bring (285-6904).

The day will end with a formal roll-

out of our famous Council Crest Car

No.503, which has been undergoing

restoration. A special photo session

and inspection will be held.

The car’s participation in the 1905

Lewis and Clark Centennial

Exposition will be recognized during

this event. This summer marks the

75th anniversary of that historic

celebration, during which No. 503

(originally 203) helped carry 1.2

million visitors to the fairgrounds.

I

A

M

This picture is thought to show car 202, still lettered for the Portland Railway Co., pressed into

service as a sightseeing car during the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. For several months after they arrived, these Brill streetcars, including our cars 503 and 506, were the only

magnetic brake-equipped trolleys suited for use on steep hills. (Bill Hayes Collection)